Vibration damper



Dec. 22, 1936.

H. H. FEBREY Filed Oct. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE VIBRATION DABIPER Harold 1I. Febrey. South Orange, N. J., assignor to The American Steel and Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey Appiieeiien oeieber z, 1934, serial Ne. 746,611

' 4 claims. (ci. 11s-13) 'This invention is a vibration damper for a strand having a free metal surface. Such a strand may be an electricV power transmission cable or a rail bond, neither of which ordinarily carries an insulating cover. The damper is particularly intended to damp high-frequency vibrations.

The `damper is illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of the damper.

Figure 2 is a side view. Figure 3 is a top view showing the damper in use.

Figure 4 is a side view showing the damper in use More specifically, this damper includes a spring metal rod I that is bent to include two respectively offset substantially parallel portions I* and Ib interconnected by a right angular portion I and having right angular end portions Id, and three metal shoes 2 in the form of channels having' right angular loops 2 on their outer sides through which the right angular portions I 9 and Id of the rod are passed so that these channels are interconnected in substantially axial alinement. The portions I* and Ib are of unequal lengths so that the shoes 2 are unequally spaced.

Figures 3 and 4 show the damper in use, the portions Il and Ib being flexed beside the strand 3i of a rail bond and the shoes being engaged with the latter alternately on opposite sides of the same. The portions Il and -Ib are in the form of curved sections which are normally free of the strand 3. yIt is to be noted that the shoes 2 prothe strand, these shoes being separated fixed distances by the exible rod I which'interconnects them and being also resiliently pressed against the strand by this rod. The pressure applied to 40 the shoes is not sufficient to cause material distortion of the strand.

The direct metallic contact is of advantage in that it is particularly eifective in damping highfrequency vibrations, which might be passed if 45 there were rubber or other soft material between the shoes and the strand. The pivotal mounting of the shoes 2 is of advantage in that it permits them to adapt themselves to the longitudinal curvature of the strand 3. Although this is illus- 50 trated as being straight, it often assumes a curved shape at one or more points, particularly in the case of long-rail bonds which are not tensioned. The separation of the shoes 2 at'unequal distances is an advantage in that the damper is then 55 effective regardless of the wave length or period of the vibration in the strand 3. If the shoes are evenly spaced there is some chance that their spacing may coincide with the wave length or pevide free metal surfaces which directly engage resiliently pressing said shoes against a strand to be damped.

2. A vibration damper including at least three metal shoes each integrally providing a metal strand-contacting surface and means for interconnecting said shoes with said surfaces in spaced tandem relationship land for resiliently pressing said surfaces against a strand to be damped, said means xedly separating the shoes in position with at least two adjacent distances between strand contacting surfaces unequal.

3. A vibration damper including a spring metal rod that is bent to include two substantially parallel portions which are roffset in respect to each other and are connected together by a portion extending at right angles to said parallel portions, each of said parallel portions having an o end portion extending parallel to said 4'connect'- lng portion, each of said end portions` and said connecting portion having a shoe in the form of a channel with a loop on its outer side for receiving its respective portion to pivot ,the shoe thereto, said shoes being so positioned as to bring the channels in alignment with each other, said end portions and said connecting portion being 'of sufllcient lengths to pemit said shoes to pivot free from said parallel portions.

4. A vibration damper including a spring metal rod that is bent to include two substantially parallel portions which are offset in respect to each other and are connected together by a portion extending at right angles to said parallel portions, each of said parallel portions having an end portion extending parallel to said connecting portion, each of said end portions `and said connecting portion having a shoe in the form of a channel with a loop on its outer side for receiving its respective portion to pivot the shoe thereto, said shoes being so positioned as to bring the channels in alignment with each other, said end portions and said connecting portion being of sumcient lengths to permit said shoes to pivot free from said parallel portions, said two substantially parallel portions which are offset in respect to each other being of unequal lengths. 

